The White House Says Iran Uses Houthi Forces in Yemen for Missile and Drone Attacks

The Deputy National Security Advisor of the White House stated on Thursday, December 7, that "we believe the Iranian regime is involved in planning, executing, and authorizing the Houthis in Yemen to carry out missile and drone attacks against Israel and ships in the Red Sea." John Feiner, in his speech at the Aspen Security Forum, added: "Although the final actions are carried out by the Houthis and they pull the trigger, it is Iran that has provided them with the weapons." He emphasized: "Our current focus is to prevent the Houthis from threatening maritime trade in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, which in turn threatens the global economy, and several other countries will cooperate with us in this regard." John Kirby, the National Security Council's Strategic Communications Coordinator, stated at a press conference on Thursday that the U.S. Departments of Defense and State will work with partner countries to enhance maritime security and combat piracy and trafficking. He again warned Tehran officials that any arms shipments to the Houthis would be intercepted, and if U.S. military ships are targeted by the Houthis, the U.S. will respond. The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned 13 individuals and entities responsible for financing and arming the Houthis in Yemen. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 6, the Iranian-backed Houthis have targeted several ships in the Red Sea. In support of the Palestinians, the Houthis have also carried out several failed missile and drone attacks against Israel. The U.S. is seeking to provide more support for commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The U.S. has sanctioned a network financing the Houthis in Yemen. A senior IRGC official made a threatening claim that ships under the Israeli flag would "certainly" be targeted. The U.S. Navy shot down a Houthi drone over the Red Sea. The Islamic Republic denied the evidence and claims, stating it was not involved in attacks against U.S. forces. The National Security Advisor of the White House stated that the Islamic Republic has enabled attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Britain stated that the Islamic Republic is responsible for the Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. CENTCOM stated that the Houthi attacks in the region are fully activated by the Iranian government.